Portable grave-vault



No. 609,358. Patented A ug. l6, I898.

B. F. LOCKWOOD.

PORTABLE GRAVE VAULT.

(Application filed Kay 7, 1897.)

' 3 $heets$heet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR.

No. 609,358. 7 Pa tented Aug. l6, I898. B. F. LOCKWOOD.

PORTABLE GRAVE VAULT.

(Application filed May 7, 1897) ATENT rrrcn.

BENJAMINF. LooKwooD, or LYONS, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE GRAVE-VAU LT.

srncrrrcnrroiv forming part of Letters area No. 609,358, dated August16, 1898.

I Application filed May 7 1897. Serial No. 635,609- (No model.)

Vaults; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the ac companyin g drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to grave or burial vaults constructed insections and formed of cement, earthenware, or suitable plastic materialmolded to shape and "adaptable in greater or less degree totransportation.

The object of my invention is the production of a portable grave-vaultcomprising in its construction such a plurality of parts or ,sections ofcomparatively small size, respectively, and coadaptable to a harmoniouscomplete structure as will insure a vault readily transportable in itsknockdown or segregated condition to destination requisite; furthermore,the attainment of a portable bur- .ial-vault peculiarly adaptable byreason of its novel construction and arrangement of parts andinterchangeability for underground service, and, moreover, of exceedingpermanence, durability, and strength, and readily erected in positionand comparatively inexpensive as regards manufacture.

My invention consists in the novel features of construction,coadaptation of parts, and their combination, as hereinafter described,and specifically enumerated in the annexed clauses of claim, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is aperspective view of 'my improved portable grave-vault as erected for theinclosing of a casket or coffin, one of the ends being shown partiallybroken away for clearer illustration of contiguous parts; Fig. 2, alongitudinal vertical section taken centrally the erected vaultstructure along dotted line w w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail horizontalcross-section of a portion of one of the sides of my vault, taken alonglongitudinal dotted line a: a", Fig. 1, and exemplifying the'joiningtogether of the side slabs or plates; Fig.

4, an isometric view of one of said sideslabs as segregated from therest and bringing out its detail formation to advantage; Fig. 5, aninner face view of oneof the pair of like-constructed ends or end wallsclosing, respectively, either extremity of the main vaultbody, hereinshown as displaced therefrom. Fig. 6 is a detail transverse verticalsection taken along abbreviated dotted line 1 1], Fig. 1, and showingmanner of connection. of a side slab with an arch-piece and afloor-slab; and Fig. 7, a detail of a couple of arch-segmentssegregated, showing shoulders and off sets of their side edges forjoining of segments of same side of arch-sections.

My portable grave-vault is constructed as follows: A are floor-slabs ofrectangular shape disposed flatwise, located lineally and abutting edgeto edge, creating a continuous flooring of requisite length, andadjacent their outer edges there are parallel grooves a a, whichnecessarily create at each side of the floor'grooves extending from oneextremity to the opposite. B indicates parallel series of side slabs ofrequisite number, which rectangular-shaped blocks, abutting at theirvertical edges, are, as relates to the series forming the sides of myvault structure, so placed in position upon the floor-slabs A as toentail their outer faces being practicallyfiush with the side edges ofthe floor, the sides respectively terminating at the vault endssufficiently away from either end edge of the floor as to leave room forthe ends closing the vault to rest upon the floor. The bottom edges ofthe side slabs are provided with shouldered tongues 12, fitting withinthe grooves a of the floor-pieces, while the two rows of side slabs arerespectively united at their perpendicular edges by means of tongues cengaging with grooves or mortises o, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The end slabs of the respective side walls are at their outwardperpendicular edge entirely devoid of any tongue or groove, therebypresenting thereat smooth-faced edges, as indicated at b. v

The top edges of the side slabs B are respectively rabbeted, as at b,creating in conjunction a shoulder and offset running in the directionof the vaults length.

The top or roof 0 of my improved vault is arch-shaped and, as relates'toit in entirety, is bisected longitudinally, as'indicated at d, said topcomprising a plurality of molded sections 0 and O of segmental shape andof requisite width and thickness, the upward centrally-protruding edgesof the segmentsections 0 being provided with a tongue 6 the width of thesections, fitting into a groove e, located in the contiguous upward andcen trally-located edges of the segments C of the sections entering intothe formation of the roof 0, and whereby a thorough and strong bindingof the roof-sections is insured.

The lower edges of the respective segments entering into the formationof the arch-like roof or top are so rabbeted, as at f, as to entailtheir interlocking withand being shouldered upon the coinciding rabbetededges b of the several side slabs B and a firm and rigid support of theroof upon the side walls secured.

Each segment O and O entering into the construction of the bisected top0 gradually thickens toward its centrally-abutting extremity, as at g,whereby through said increased thickness at top central portion of thearch -like roof more strength and efficiency of resistance to anypressure upon the top is assured.

The ends or curvilinear edges of the archsections 0 C are, as relates tothe segments of either side of the arch, constructed with lap-joints h,so as to firmly and sustainingly,

engage one with the other, as indicated in Fig. 2 and also in thesegregated detail Fig. 7.

In my construction of a vault I preferably start the formation of one ofthe side walls of my structure by erecting first at one extremity of theflooring a side slab B of narrower width (not thickness) than thecompanion slabs of said side wall, as denoted at 1', while as regardsthe opposite side wall I preferably have the farther end thereoffinished with a side slab B'of somewhat less width than the companionslabs, as denoted by the letter 'i, and with reference to thesegment-shaped slabs entering into the formation of the top or roof ofmy vault I start the series of one bisectively-divided portion of thesaid roof with a segment 0 somewhat narrower than the other sections, asindicated at K, while as relates to the other side division of the roofI permit the farther end to terminate with a correspondingly-narrowedsegment, as designated by letter K.

By reason of my utilization of stated narrower sections and the breakingof joints as relates both to the parts of the side walls and thevault-roof my structure is readily adjustable as to length (foradaptation to caskets of varying lengths) with the greatest ease bysimply adding or dispensing with certain slab-sections of the roof andsides, as is clearly apparent.

The outer end edges of the segment-like sections terminating thevault-roof at either extremity have smooth faces, as at Z, and are whenproperly disposed at said points flush with the smooth faces oftheoutward edges of the underneath side slabs.

The ends of my structure are respectively closed by end coverings D D,comprising, essentially, a couple of rectangular-like slabs or panels 11, seated by their smooth bottom edges upon an end slab of the floor Ain the space left therefor and extending across the otherwise open endof the vault, the said sections 1 1 being at their verticalcentrallymeeting edges interlocked by means of a tongue-and-grooveconnection m, said slabs by their smooth portions abutting the smoothedges of the contiguous end slabs B B.

The combined joined slabs 1 1 arise from the floor and upwardlyterminate on like horizontal plane at or about in line with the top edgeof the side slabs B B.

Resting upon the top edge of the joined slabs 1 1 aforesaid there is asemidisk-shaped slab 2 of a width extending from side to side of thevault end and of such arch-like contour along its uprising edges as toentail its extending flush with the contiguous archsections 0' 0,against whose smooth edges its smooth inner face abuts along itsboundary.

The upper semidisk-like slab 2 is by its lower horizontal edge connectedwith the top edge of the combined slabs 1 1 by means of a rabbet orother satisfactory joint 12, the abutting edges of the parts being soconfigurated as to insure requisite joining.

The inner sides of the sections 1 1, contiguous to their outer verticaledges and that of the semidisk-like section 2, recede from the mainportion of the inner faces of the parts and entailing flange-like orlapping boundary edges 19 p 1), respectively, which abut the terminationof a vault end, while necessarily insuring the main portions of saidsections projecting slightly into the interior of the vault end andsnugly fitting interiorly the boundary of the side slabs and archportion of the vault structure and a perfect closure of the chamber ofthe vault at its respective extremities assured.

The fact of having grooves a Ct continuous from end to end of theseveral floor-slabs A is obviously of value in the increasing ordiminishing of the length of the flooring for adaptation in the increaseor shortening of the vault structure, as receptive grooves are insuredfor the tongue portions of any requisite number of slabs appertaining tothe side walls.

Clearly, if so desired, the exposed portions of said grooves a aresiding at either extremity of my vault, following the erection of theend pieces or closers D, may be filled in with cement, although not byany means essential to, as devoid of a filling no orifice opens at thosespots into the vault interior.

\Vhile my receptacle is primarily designed as a vault or a lining for anordinary underground grave, it may evidently, if so desired,

be utilized as a vault or tomb located above the surface of the earth,although I consider my structure the more especially advantageous forunderground service.

Obviously where artificial stone is the material employed for thevarious sections proper molds are utilized for the formation of same ina plastic state and which, subsequently hardening, create solid slabs orpieces of the characteristics desired.

Evidently the floor-slabs are disposed at the bottom of the grave, andthe sides and end pieces being erected loose dirt is filled inbetweensame and the contiguous vertical sides of the grave, and, the coffin orcasket being deposited in place, the roof-sections are disposed inposition and dirt covered over same.

Suitable cement may be used at the joints and elsewhere of thereceptacle for rendering same air and water tight or, contrariwise,dispensed with.

The slabs entering into the formation of my vault being all ofcomparatively small size are readily transportable and easily erected intheir proper places wherever erection of vault is to be had.

As is apparent, the slabs may be conveniently crated for shipment to anydesired point, ready for immediate utilization for a vault followingarrival at destination.

By my invention not only a readily-portable vault is attained, but onewhich may expeditiously be erected and possessing exceeding strength anddurability, and a very important feature comparatively inexpensive ascompared with varied forms of grave vaults or linings now more or lessused.

. Obviously, if so wished, my novel longitudinally-bisected roof or top,comprising moderate-sized segments united as hereinbefore specified, maybe mounted (inlike manner) upon the side walls of a vault structureconstructed of courses of brick laid in customary manner and the floorand closing ends of brickwork, or. otherwise, as wished, without adeparture from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A portable grave-vault composed of top arched segmental slabs, saidslabs connected at their longitudinal center by a tongue-andgroove jointand at their sides by a lapping joint and each slab provided at itslower bottom edge with a projecting tongueand abutting shoulder, incombination with side slabs, said side slabs provided on one edge with avertical groove, on the opposite edge with a tongue, on its upper endwith a tongue on one edge thereof to engage the shoulder of the topslab, and at its bottom with a central tongue, bottom slabs eachprovided near its opposite side edges with a vertical groove to engagewith the said lower central tongue of the side slabs, and sectional endpieces to close the vault, said end pieces connected by a tongue-and-groove joint, and provided with an interiorly-projecting sideand top flange to engage the top and side parts of the vault toadditionally support the same, substantially as described.

I 2. In a portable grave-vault, the side slabs B provided on one sideedge with a vertical groove and on the opposite edge with a tongue, itsupper end provided with a tongue at one edge and its lower end with acentral tongue, in combination with top and bottom slabs provided withsuitable means to engage with said side slabs, substantially asdescribed.

3 In a structure of the class described, parallel side walls composed ofa series of upright slabs, an end slab of both walls being of a narrowerwidth than its companions, in combination with a longitudinally-bisectedroof upheld by the side walls, one of the two series of segment-shapedslabs forming the roof starting with a section narrower than the othersof said series, and the other series of segments terminating in asection narrower than the preceding sections and at that end of thestructure remote from the narrower segment of the first-named series, asand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' BENJAMIN F. LOCKWOOD. [L. s] Witnesses:

M. CHARLES TAYLOR, LUTHER S. LAKE.

